Today the Poetry at Noon program at the Library of Congress celebrated Shakespeare’s birthday a few days early with readings from the sonnets and plays by Anna Kepe and Jjana Valentine, graduates of the Shakespeare Theater’s Academy Classical Acting at The George Washington University, followed by one intrepid volunteer reader and many questions from the audience. Shakespeare’s actual birth date is not known, but he was baptized April 26, 1564. The traditional birthday, as celebrated lavishly in Stratford-upon-Avon, is April 23, the feast day of Saint George, patron saint of England. Shakespeare is the only author today with his own Dewey number, 822.33 William Shakespeare, a special subdivision of 822.3 Drama of Elizabethan period, 1558-1625. The complete works of Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s collected plays, an individual play, a biography of Shakespeare—all are classed in 822.33. The sonnets and other nondramatic poetry of Shakespeare, however, are classed with Elizabethan poetry in 821.3. A dramatic film version of Hamlet or another of Shakespeare’s plays is classed in 791.4372 Single films. Why put a film version of Hamlet in 791.4372 instead of 822.33? In the arts (700-800), form and format are important. The arts of acting, directing, costuming, cinematography, etc., all contribute to a motion picture.
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